Black Jelly beans

[IPA Brewer]

I've heard through some friends of mine, that thier fathers in thier brewing days used black jelly beans when bottling.

 

I bottled my first brew last week and put two in three of my bottles for a test.

 

What effect might these have on the beer? The brew is a Munich Lager.

 

 

[jt]

Sometimes used to prime stouts. Made famous by a newspaper article - possibly even TV piece - featuring 'jellybean' - proprietor of jellybean brewing supplies Napier

Perhaps the Hawkes Bay locals could elaborate ?

[Sparky]

Jellybeans......Radio Pacific.....Homebrew Shop.....Carol Beer.......Run out of words!

[Fairlane]

oh please don't get me started on this store and more importantly it's proprietor..... especially since I have just spent an afternoon drinking some very good beer with some of the hawkes bay lads and funnily enough, discussion did centre at times on this myth of the black jellybean (and hence the store) during the afternoon.

To cut a long story short... I think if you want a slight aniseed taste to your beer then add it at source and not through a peice of junk candy.

[denimglen]

If you put it in with your normal priming sugar expect bottle bombs or gushers.

If you went without priming sugar then you carbonation level should be similar I'd think.

And of course it will add some black jelly bean flavour to the beer.

Would be interested to hear how it works out.

[James P]

Weigh a jelly bean and then determine the sugar content. I'm assuming 95~100% sugar content.

Assuming a JB weighs 2 grams, then you would be spot on with 3 to prime @ 6 grams of sugar.... then again I have been drinking again tonight....

[Nick T]

might be nice in a spiced chocolate stout, adding a subtle anise flavour? I imagine in a lager, with its clean flavour profile, it might seem a little exotic..

[Patrick]

I have heard of people using Sultanas instead of priming sugar - not sure what is supposed to achieve.